Trying Sew Hard.

Besides my 3 children, house and hubby, I've never had a "real" hobby. Unless I can count collecting supplies for various projects I'd never finish a hobby. In Spring of 2008, I took a leap into the nerve-wracking yet thrilling world of sewing. Instead of finding a hobby, I've found an addiction. This blog was created out of my own selfish desire for wisdom and advice from the experts out there. Also my friends are sick of me bugging them with pictures on their cell phones and websites.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

My favorite event, Little Feet Repeats, was held this past week. I instantly fell in love with a pillowcase that I found. It's orange, (one of my fave colors) and it's polka-dotty (my favorite design). It was a bit big to be a dress for Kaitlynn so I cut it up and gave it new seams to make it smaller. I wasn't in the mood to make tiny hems in the armpits so I went on the hunt for some bias tape, just hoping and praying I'd have something in my collection. Sure enough, I found some light peach tape that I completely forgot I had purchased for a different dress. Double Score!! So here it is! My "Just Peachy" pillowcase dress:

Thursday, March 19, 2009

On March 15th, I attended my cousin Jennifer's baby shower for soon-t0-be Jessica Michelle..(most likely). The baby should arrive into the world by scheduled C-Section in a little less than a month. It was a nice, relaxing, low key baby shower. I actually won a game! That never happens. The object of the game was to diaper a baby doll - blindfolded! Shocking that I won that one, huh? Had a little practice here and there over the past 6 years...... and most recently. Anyway - I made her gift and here are pictures:

This is a diaper clutch with pink gingham lining and a chenille bib with pink gingham backing.

Here's the Ballerina flannel bib with Pink satin lining and the baby blanket. The back is the coordinating chenille with.... of course, the Ballerina flannel lining.

And lastly, a photo of the handheld taggy and a shot of the whole kit 'n' caboodle! I hope she actually gets some use out of these!! Early Congratulations Kevin and Jenn!

Monday, March 16, 2009

My baby sister Jamie is currently training for the "Rock & Roll Marathon" in Seattle, Wa on June 27th, 2009. All funds raised will benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Sociey is a national voluntary health agency dedicated to curing Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and Myeloma and improving the quality of life for patients and their families. This cause is very near and dear to our family and we would love if YOU could be a part of it! Her Inland Empire Marathon Team will be running for a 5 year old boy named Micah Brown. Jamie's personal honoree is our cousin Paul who had Non-Hodgkins B-Cell Lymphoma. Any donation you are able to make is 100% tax deductible! (LLS TAX ID#13-5644916) Jamie's personal goal is to raise $5000.00! You can donate to the cause and view her fundraising progress at http://pages.teamintraining.org/ocie/rnrseatl09/jpellettera. No amount is too small!! THANK YOU in advance for any way you can help!

Monday, February 9, 2009

Kaitlynn has to bring a decorated box to school tomorrow. It will store her Valentine's cards and goodies on Thursday during their classroom celebration. I've had this shoebox for YEARS. Seriously, I've been saving it. I didn't know what for - but it ended up coming in handy. I wrapped it in festive fabric and Kaitlynn glued on gemstones, sticky sayings and foam hearts. I fancy this box :)

Number 2 -

I found this idea out in cyber space. This is a soup can. I peeled off the paper label, washed it out and used a tutorial from another blog to create the soup can cover. I really hope my children's teachers don't read my blog posts. I have no idea why they would but you never know I guess!

Number 3 -

A repeat of the soup can project. This one is for Andrew's 1st grade teacher. Looking at it now, I shouldn't have taken such a close up picture. I really did a number with that zig zig stitch. I'm not sure what I'm going to fill them with, but I heart these soup cans!

I can't remember how long it's been since I've seen the idea of a diaper clutch, but I do remember thinking how genious it would be for me. Now that Mitchell is coming up on 18 months old, the only "baby" stuff that we regularly bring out with us are diapers and wipes.... And a ziploc freezer bag is usually my tote of choice. Otherwise they just end up at the bottom of purse encased in cracker crumbs and gum wrappers. Today I finally found a tutorial I liked and got around to sewing up a diaper/wipes clutch for Mitchell.... Okay, it's really for ME!

Monday, January 12, 2009

Not sure if you know.. But I seriously LOVE polka dots. Maybe in an unhealthy manner?? I've been holding on to some pink and brown polka dot remnants for months now... just waiting for the perfect project to come along. A super duper friend brought me a pattern piece and instructions for a smock top this afternoon. I sewed it up real quick and added velcro closure this evening. It wasn't polka dotty enough, so I grabbed a pair of her jeans and added a ruffled band around the bottom of the pants. This was the first time I have ruffled without a ruffler foot... well who am I kidding? This was only the second time I've ruffled anything. The first time I tried it out for fun with a ruffler foot on my machine. It wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be - plus I learned about some new features of my machine in the process! And the results couldn't be cuter!!!!

Monday, December 29, 2008

I hope this post finds you all warm and cozy! Above you'll see a slide show of most of the gifts I created for my loved ones this Christmas. I didn't get pictures of the stepping stones we made for my Dad's backyard. With a bag of cement, a bucket and pie pans, we handed over a moment in time. The stones including Andrew and Kaitlynn's handprints and Mitchell's footprint. They are permanant yet portable. I also made a NASCAR themed blanket for my Mom's husband that I never caught a photo of! I was able to really break in my new sewing desk last week. Most of the projects were sewn in a matter of 3 days - nothing like waiting until the last minute?! That's pretty much protocol in my house!

About Me

I'm 26, at last count I've got 3 kids, a husband and one really annoying dog. As any SAHM can attest to, most days are filled with diapers, cooking, sweeping, breaking up fights, time outs, t.v. monitoring, bathing, dusting and running errands.